Tis' the season

[BennyLaRue]

Just a warniung. Any advice here on in might be drunk advice but it's still a deal at 5 cents.


Edit: Started a new thread as requested. I think it is the season to talk about drinks, drinking and booze appreciation.
Jyms

[jyms]

Just a warniung. Any advice here on in might be drunk advice but it's still a deal at 5 cents.

Perfect timing for me then. Here's the thing. I am a beer drinker, I don't drink often but when I do I can drink enough. I drink tequila when the time is right and the party is well past post game in the dressing room or in the bleachers after a softball game. What's my question you ask? Well I want to take up a new drink, something that says "I'm cultured, I'm not a college frat boy and also be able to tell quality from antifreeze. I was thinking scotch. How do I go about learning to like it? what's the best way to start drinking it, maybe mixed, neat, or just thinned with water and ice? What brand to start?

[BennyLaRue]

The Doctor is OUT. Will answer Jyms tomorrow-ish though because his is perhaps the most important question in this thread and perhaps on this whole forum.

[DropTheBanana]

^^^^
I agree. I'd go as far to say that whiskey discussion deserves a thread of it's own.

[Warpe]

Perfect timing for me then. Here's the thing. I am a beer drinker, I don't drink often but when I do I can drink enough. I drink tequila when the time is right and the party is well past post game in the dressing room or in the bleachers after a softball game. What's my question you ask? Well I want to take up a new drink, something that says "I'm cultured, I'm not a college frat boy and also be able to tell quality from antifreeze. I was thinking scotch. How do I go about learning to like it? what's the best way to start drinking it, maybe mixed, neat, or just thinned with water and ice? What brand to start?

Blended Scotches We Love - Forbes.com )

[jyms]

Thanks Warpe.

[BennyLaRue]

Perfect timing for me then. Here's the thing. I am a beer drinker, I don't drink often but when I do I can drink enough. I drink tequila when the time is right and the party is well past post game in the dressing room or in the bleachers after a softball game. What's my question you ask? Well I want to take up a new drink, something that says "I'm cultured, I'm not a college frat boy and also be able to tell quality from antifreeze. I was thinking scotch. How do I go about learning to like it? what's the best way to start drinking it, maybe mixed, neat, or just thinned with water and ice? What brand to start?

Dear jyms,

"Scotch, scotch, I love scotch." - ancient unknown philiosopher

Scotch, like olives, Don DeLillo novels and cunnilingus with certain women, is an acquired taste. It might take longer for certain people to make that acquisition, but most get there if they try enough times. The premium blended scotches like what Chivas (goes great with fettucine alfredo, so says Hunter Thompson) J&B or Johnnie Walker (but not Red...I think Red sucks and it's not worth your time or money) produce are a good starting point - you won't know enough about Scotch yet to know what qualities you'll appreciate. Generally with blends, the higher priced stuff will be smoother but which bottle from those labels that you should buy really depends on the price point you can afford.

Have a couple of drinking sessions with a blend and then bust out a great and relatively inexpensive single malt you can find in any LCBO like Glenfiddich or Glenlivet. The single malts will have unique tones to them so you can keep trying until you find one you think is best (a probably impossible task but trying is fun). Whether or not you appreciate them more than a blend depends on your palate, really.

As far as how to drink it, forget mixing with a lot of soda or water. What's the point of taking a relatively expensive item and mixing it with a substantial quantity of something of lesser purity? You might as well stick with Canadian rye if you want to mix. I really recommend diving in. Start by drinking it on the rocks. If it's too harsh for you, wait 5 minutes...the melting ice will take away the edge of the burn. If you find yourself starting to enjoy it after a couple of drinking sessions, try it neat and see which is your preference.

Here's the thing though; everybody is drinking scotch now. You could say drinking scotch, even great single malts, has become downright plebeian. You say that you've got tequila experience under your belt (I'm going to go on a limb here and say you're talking about Cuervo, cheap Sauza or maybe even Patron by the way you said it) but have you ever really had a premium tequila? I mean sipping tequila. I mean quality Reposados and Añejos. I mean the shit that rivals the best scotches, vodkas and brandies for an epicurean alchohol experience. You could become the ubiquitous guy who really knows his scotch or you could be that pretty unique guy who knows his tequila, who blows people's minds by offering them a new experience. Which would you rather be?

First things first, forget Gold tequila if we're sipping. This is what a lot of people think makes for premium tequila but it's anything but. The colour is actually caramel (or sometimes just food colouring...oy) and masks the harshness of cheap liquor, making it better than blanco for shots but doesn't make for a quality beverage. Look for the terms resposado (aged 2 months or more in oak) or añejo (mucho aged - more than a year in oak) on the label. The aging really mellows the tequila. Herradura makes a good resposado and Cabo Wabo is good (but due to a massive marketing campaign, I think you'll find it overpriced) and you should be able to find those anywhere. Sauza Resposado is probably your cheapest bet and is decent but you can do better for even $15 more/bottle. Great but harder to find resposados/anejos are made by Don Julio. I don't think I've ever seen these at a regular LCBO, only at duty free and massive LCBOs like the Summerhill LCBO in Toronto. Don't waste this shit on shots, margaritas or other mixed drinks. This is for sipping only. Those are just a few suggestions, you'll find tons of tequila rankings on the net and there's no shortage of stuff to try.

Whatever you go with, good luck getting drunk in a sophisticated manner.

Warmest Regards,
Benny

[jyms]

I like my tequila like my women, fast. I prefer to keep that altered part of my drinking life as is for now, but I love your idea of getting to know tequila better. Way better drunks on tequila than beer, mixed liquor or shots. I did do some reading and as you have stated, it's pretty much standard thoughts to start with something smoother and less peaty, like a blend (JW black maybe) that I can ice down or mix with some water or soda, or a soft single malt like MaCallan, Glenlivit or Glenfiddich. My two goals for learning to appreciate scotch is that one, like you stated, people are getting into it more, so many social gatherings are choosing scotch as a drink for sampling, conversation and some people like the ability to feel snobbish ( I like knocking these people down a peg when opportunity presents itself) The other is beer is filling, calorie dense and just not something I want to be drinking as regularily anymore and think in some social settings, I would much rather have a glass or two of a sipping drink and bring a bottle, than carry a case of beer and having to piss 15 times.

[supa]

Jyms, while it's obvious that the well respected Dr. has done his homework, I believe he resides just a few thousand miles to far to the north to fully understand and appreciate the not so subtle aspects of a good tequila.

Cabo Wabo is crap tequila. You may as well buy whatever bottom shelf tequila you can find and forge Sammy Hagars signature on it because that's what you're paying for. It's harsh, flavorless and just plain nasty. Hornitos is a better choice for the same quality but much cheaper. A great party starter is what we call "the mexican mood changer" consisting of a shot of hornitos and a can of modelo- slam the shot, then the beer- party on guillermo!

The good DR. is correct in suggesting a good anejo but don't count them out for shots. I prefer Don Julio and tho Patron isn't quite as smooth but both are good. The most important part about drinking good tequilas if you're having shots is the hangover is less severe than with crap tequilas (Cabo Wabo). Also, do not discount these more expensive tequilas for margaitas. Mixed strong with a quality mixer, the tequila flavor (especially anejos) comes through well and adds an enjoyable aroma that can make a standard magarita a thing of beauty (maybe the fat chick on the other side of the room too!). Add a floater of grand marnier and you have the "cadillac" of margaritas.

As far as scotch goes, leave it to the snobs. Do yourself a favor and try a Jack on the rocks. Like benny said, let the ice melt a little and it'll smooth out perfectly.

[supa]

Almost forgot, Don Julio is readily available in grocery stores here so you may not have a problem finding it where you live.

[BennyLaRue]

Jyms lives close to me. I'm afraid that our LCBO (gov't regulated hooch markets) doesn't have a lot of selection available so we have to work with what we're given. No question you'll get more and better varieties in the US, however.

That said, the LCBO does carry Hornitos but under the Sauza name (Sauza Hornitos Resposado).

[jyms]

I started this in it's own thread to keep the conversation going about the scotch start ups and possible tequila and alternatives

What's the experiences here on starting with a blended scotch like a JW Black label as opposed to a softer single malt like Glenfiddich or MaCallan?

I have a list of single malts that also includes Glenmorangie, Jura, knokando and Glenlivit all in the 10-12 year range that are lighter and less peaty

[swiggidy]

My Stuff from other thread:
not to shortcut the pro, but Jyms,

[ ] shortcutted
[x] failed to realize there were multiple pages

I would recommend starting with mid-range stuff, on the rocks (if it is not appealing to you to drink it neat). Also there is a noticeable jump from the low end to the middle, worth it for the cost. I prefer most whiskey with one ice cube as the slightly chill and small amount of water cuts it nicely, without diluting the taste. Only uber snobs will scoff at you.

black label bourbons >> white label
single malts >> blends (but don't be afraid to start with black label blends for cost)
There are 3 main types of scotch, lowland (ed: actually speyside), highland, and islay. Generally the lowlands are light body and flavor, the highlands are a bit heavier and more flavorful, and the islays have a strong peaty flavor.

-----------------------------------

I used to only drink JW (black), and Bushmills black (Irish, but a blend so slim difference). Also a fan of the Jim Beam Black on the light rocks, but most anything is good with light ice (like 1/2 cup instead of full cup o ice).

After I got my tax return 2 years ago bought Highland Park, McCallan, and Laphroaig so I had 3 different types of scotch to sip on and note differences. I still have all 3 because I'm a nit and don't drink them that often, or will have one glass to start a night. I usually have bourbon around for when I feel like drinking, Knob Creek is the best main stream, usually get Maker's because it's cheaper. There are supposedly better bourbon's out there, but not in my neighborhood liquor store.

[jyms]

Yea I have spent a considerable time reading about Scotch the last two days so location, peat, the types of barreling and blending used are at least understood already. Right now, not being a scotch or whiskey drinker at all, I think a blend (still thinking JW black) maybe the best choice for cost and for getting used to the actual drink. Any decent single malt will probably be lost on an unrefined taste and nose, so something with less bite and can be cut with a cube or two might be a good solid start. From what I understand, I just need to get through a bottle to be able to start to discern a difference and actually be able to taste the flavours.

[BennyLaRue]

I started this in it's own thread to keep the conversation going about the scotch start ups and possible tequila and alternatives

Speaking of alternatives, I really want to get into quality sipping rums next but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Swigs adds good stuff to the convo and a little more advanced knowledge. Sounds like you've got all the info you need on scotch now Jyms, just a matter of putting in the time.

As far as starting with a blend vs. a single malt of moderate character, you can go either way, you'll just find more variance between flavours in the single malts. The one good thing about starting with a blend is that you'll get started with a relatively tame flavour and softer notes. Starting with a single malt, that might always be your point of comparison...what you think is scotch.

[Micro2Macro]

when it comes to sipping liquor should I stick with one type until i've gotten substantial experience with it or would you say mixing it up works fine.

also what is your take on vodka?

[supa]

Jack goes well with babies, ldo.

[swiggidy]

when it comes to sipping liquor should I stick with one type until i've gotten substantial experience with it or would you say mixing it up works fine.

I'd start with one bottle, just to get used to it. Then consider buying 2 or 3 because having them back to back will notice a diff. But if it's mid-levels or blends they really do taste the same. Maybe get a small red label and a medium black label, huge difference in smoothness, thus drinkability

also what is your take on vodka?

Mix it with orange juice to get teenagers drunk

[DropTheBanana]

But if it's mid-levels or blends they really do taste the same.

This is why i can never bring myself to buy a bottle of JW Blue.

[swiggidy]

I won like $400 in Vegas the first time I played poker and was all OMG I'm rich!! We went out, then at like 8a I decided I wanted JW Blue so I go to the bar and ask how much it was. $85 for one, holy fuck. The Green was $35.

Except, the only reason I remember this is because I had a receipt for $35 in my wallet, thus still don't know what the Green tastes like.

[BennyLaRue]

when it comes to sipping liquor should I stick with one type until i've gotten substantial experience with it or would you say mixing it up works fine.

I find I have to stick with one type if I'm new to it, so the flavours are fresher in my mind and I can make better comparisons but I wouldn't say you need substantial experience or anything. You can avoid forgetting what stuff tastes like by having a tasting of 3-4 kinds - it can be like a Tupperware party for dudes.

also what is your take on vodka?

I prefer gin martinis so haven't had a huge variety of vodkas. It's hasn't been terribly interesting to me on its own yet because I find it needs to be super cold to even be palatable. What I really want to do (and I swear it's one of the only reasons I'd like to travel to Russia) is the whole vodka meal experience, tasting caviar and dumplings etc. with courses of vodka in between. With food I think vodka could get really interesting.

[daven]

good vodka is wow
get to estonia, grind with the FR kings, live like royalty on like $1 a month, check out the hottest women on the planet, and drink their vodka.

[jackvance]

to be jolly..

what?

[a500lbgorilla]

Vodka - Chopin
Scotch - Chivas Regal
Bourbon - Maker's Mark
Tequila - Hell no.
Fruity stuff - Malibu Coconut Rum

Also, speaking of the Canadian Hooch mart, why is everything double price up north? Why would a country do that to its people?

[kiwiMark]

canada's not the exception on this one, sir

[d0zer]

when it comes to sipping liquor should I stick with one type until i've gotten substantial experience with it or would you say mixing it up works fine.

also what is your take on vodka?

Just learn to drink whiskey so you can pretend to be a man. scotch > irish whiskey >>> canadian whiskey > american whiskey. Start with some ice, then go to a few drops of water or neat as you grow a pair.

All you need to know about vodka is that you can catch a quick buzz by doing shots of freezer-vodka, or mask the solvent-like flavor with citrus to get chicks' panties off.

[BennyLaRue]

canada's not the exception on this one, sir

Right. The question, rilla, is why does your government want you drunk all the time?

[BennyLaRue]

All you need to know about vodka is that you can catch a quick buzz by doing shots of freezer-vodka, or mask the solvent-like flavor with citrus to get chicks' panties off.

What do I do if she isn't wearing any?

[jyms]

What do I do if she isn't wearing any?

put the lid back on the bottle and put the used shot glasses in the sink. Your done using the liquor, now licker

[a500lbgorilla]

Right. The question, rilla, is why does your government want you drunk all the time?

It's truly a statement on the awesomeness of Capitalism. It's a 24/7 party!

[flomo]

snobbieness is made up of a few parts, implied knowledge and condescension are just 2.
if there is a scotch bar in your town go there for tasting and getting "knowledge".

i'm a cocktail snobb, which is much cheaper than a scotch snobb.
try a rob roy!

[bigred]

[flomo]

that is a bottle of dom int he background
which makes it funny to me

[bigred]

lol, ur right

[WillburForce]

i've never liked whisky really but will drink it if push comes to shove. I have some ok stuff in the cabinet. BlackBush from Ireland someone got me and some borboun, Four Roses which was made for Japan but is now meant to be good.
I've also got some Japanese whisky which is meant to be the shizzle but I don't like.

I drink Calvados/British Cider Brandy or Armagnac.

The Scotch thing isn't so big over here, though prob is moreso in Scotland - though like the tartan is prob over hyped..

[jyms]

So hard to read as Ill instead of I'll too.

Gonna buy a bottle of JW red today to drink pre Xmas and then move up to the JW black for Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing day. No beer or other drinks till those two are done. Then hopefully I can start to recognize the difference enough to move to a single malt by taste.

[d0zer]

JW red and black are close enough that you probably won't notice much if any of a diff if you're not a whiskey snob.

I'd suggest maybe trying two different blended scotches, like a JW red and grant's, or if you're going to upgrade, go from one of those two to a glenlivet 12 or glenfiddich 12. I suggest both of those because they're much milder in flavour than the islay (peaty) scotches, so good for beginners imo.

[BennyLaRue]

JW red and black are close enough that you probably won't notice much if any of a diff if you're not a whiskey snob.

The diff between those two isn't about snobbery as much as "holy shit, that one made me cough and the other one I can actually drink".

[jyms]

I haven't drank anything resembling scotch, rye or whiskey since probably high school, sans the evil summer pool parties where the Southern Comfort has been pulled out for shots which is not a solid resemblance I know. Almost anything is going to make me cough. Do you think the JW black would be a better first bottle then? Something else Benny? You pick my first bottle then.

[BennyLaRue]

I think you'll find Black much smoother, yes. Give er a go.

[jyms]

TR soon

[d0zer]

The diff between those two isn't about snobbery as much as "holy shit, that one made me cough and the other one I can actually drink".

never been a fan of JW anything. Overpriced for what it is -- much better bang for your bucks out there.

Grants > red
livet/fiddich > black
etc..

Hell I'd rather drink bushmills than JW red

[BennyLaRue]

Hell I'd rather drink bushmills than JW red

Yeah, but he's asking about scotch in particular, not Irish whiskey. You don't want him laughed out of these snobby parties he's planning on going to. Next thing you'll be telling him Oakley makes awesome monocles.

[jyms]

Yea the goal is to develop a taste for scotch. It's not the snobby parties so much as the other reasons I mentioned too. I'm 46, I think bringing a case of beer to parties and small gatherings that aren't beside pool is kind of old. I don't want to be drinking rum and coke, or gin and tonic and if I did, I would have to adapt to that drink as much as the scotch. So I choose to start here. I think a blend is best to start, and not something cheap that will burn my tongue, nor something too expensive that I cannot actually appreciate. But If I am going to take a bottle and leave it, because that's what you do when you bring alcohol to a gathering, it may as well be something that they would appreciate and use. Also, if I go back and have got deeper into my appreciation, I don't want to be offered something crap to drink that I may have brought several moths earlier.

[BennyLaRue]

Pretty sure I just want to ditch work and drink scotch all afternoon now, then maybe cry a bit.

[DropTheBanana]

livet/fiddich > black

DUCY?

[jyms]

YouTube - I Love Scotch!

[!Luck]

I am not a big drinker and I always preferred black over red but I never tried really getting into it. This thread inspired me. So had a little scotch tasting with my friends last night. I am an amateur so take it my comments for what they are worth.


From Left to right Johnnie walker Blue, Gold, Green, Black, Red, Macallen 12, Glenlivet 15, and Johnnie walker swing.

Everything was drank neat. All comments are in order of tasting.

Red: Open up bottle, smell. Get that shiver feel. The smell was over powering. I sipped about a half a shot of it and it bites the tongue RIGHT away. Not a pleasant experience. But it was only half a shot. Basically, i do not ever plan on drinking it neat again.

Gold: After pouring a about a shot into a clean glass, I took a small wiff. Didn't really smell anything. Then took a strong sniff and the smell was very light. I can't say it was pleasant nor unpleasant but it was nothing like red. Ahh the taste. Took tiny sips. The bite was light, if i let it stand on my tongue it hurt LDO. but taking my time drinking was nice. It had, best i can describe is mellow (bland?) flavor to it. But it was just pleasant to drink hard alcohol and not be over powered by the taste of alcohol itself.

Green: About a shot. The smell was slightly stronger then gold. It bites me a bit sooner but truthfully, I didn't really notice that big of difference (again im new to this). It was similar to gold. I know it had a slightly different flavor but I couldn't really describe it.

Blue: Took like half a shot into a clean glass. The smell was stronger than gold/green, but no where near as strong as red. It bites faster than green/gold and it wasn't too smooth. Now, this might be due that this bottle isn't new open as you can tell by picture. It is about 3-4 years old. So not sure how age affects it. Overall, I did not like it as much as gold. It was on par with green, but slightly different flavor. Maybe someone in the know can comment how the fact that it was an old bottle affects. I was tempted to buy another bottle of blue since it was on sale for 160 (but at the moment that is a bit much). I am bit disappointed, because all other times I had blue I really liked it. But that's cause I generally drank red quality liquor and tend to mix (rum and coke is my party drink) so blue was always an experience. But in direct comparison in this trial it failed to stack up against gold. On par with green/swing.

Swing: At this point my smelling senses were starting to dull a bit (yep, Im a light weight). But seemed not overpowering. It had similar bit characteristics to Green. BUT, it had a very unique taste. I want to call it spice. It was nice, but I can say it had too much flavor for me. Btw, I never heard of swing until today, when I just saw it next to the black/gold bottles. Price was in 50s (54 I think).

The Glenlivet 15: I was less scientific by this point. So, I can't honestly tell you about the smell. But the bite wasn't too quick nor strong. BUT, the taste was just over powering, stronger than the swing. To tell you the truth I really didn't like it. I gave some of it away it just wasn't very pleasing.


I couldn't taste them all because well I was kinda buzzed and decide just pour a hefty glass of Gold, threw in 1 cube of ice and nurse it for an hour. Very pleasant way to spend my time. I hope this helps those who have never done. I plan on trying to do t his again. This is so much more fun then wine tasting, which I was never really able to get into.

!luck

[jyms]

One thing I do know, is never to drink it neat. It needs at least a drop or two of water to get the nose and flavours out. The amount depends on it's cask strength obviously, but non-tap water is required. I notice you said nothing of the Black?

[BennyLaRue]

Heroic. Nice job.

[CoccoBill]

So we have a whisky thread and people are suggesting to start off with shitty blends and crappy single malts. Wtf. I'll save you time, money and energy, try one of these and if you don't like them, forget whiskies:

Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig (Quarter Cask or 15 for example)
any Ardbeg

And stop talking about on the rocks, mixed drinks or other gay shit, whisky is only drinked neat, or with a splash of spring water IF it's cask strength. HTH.

[d0zer]

Yeah, but he's asking about scotch in particular, not Irish whiskey. You don't want him laughed out of these snobby parties he's planning on going to. Next thing you'll be telling him Oakley makes awesome monocles.

that's a retarded analogy and you're a tosser for making it.

[BennyLaRue]

Sorry, Daven. I was purely kidding. Jyms can't pull off a monocle.

[flomo]

we found the snob to give jyms advice.

[d0zer]

Sorry, Daven. I was purely kidding. Jyms can't pull off a monocle.

sorry, that was the whiskey talking

[jyms]

So we have a whisky thread and people are suggesting to start off with shitty blends and crappy single malts. Wtf. I'll save you time, money and energy, try one of these and if you don't like them, forget whiskies:

Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig (Quarter Cask or 15 for example)
any Ardbeg

And stop talking about on the rocks, mixed drinks or other gay shit, whisky is only drinked neat, or with a splash of spring water IF it's cask strength. HTH.

I know a guy that drinks single malts religiously and last time I was at his house another buddy went Apeshit about the value that this guy had in his cabinet in scotch alone. Even he told me that the Laphroaig is pretty bad unless you like to drink that actual taste profile. Just because it tastes like Peat, that doesn't make it the best. Pretty sure that if I tried one of those first, they would probably be my last as well.

TR: I had 3 JW black tonight, first one was just as expected, couple cubes I let melt some. It was a bit of a burn and the taste was pretty much the alcohol at first, but I expected that. By the third, I had one cube and no water and actually would have had another but time was not on my side. I'll be getting used to this. Probably going to buy a Glenmorangie orig. for Xmas day, or Macalan to stay on the fruity/floral side for now and stay away from the peat/smoke/musty flaovors.

[flomo]

jyms
think of this in the way that poker advice can be given on these boards.
many different levels===many correct answers===many different situations

[d0zer]

so ice always mellows the flavor because slower moving molecules don't move around as fast, rite?

well that's why the shittier the booze is, the more you wanna mask the harsh flavour with ice. as a n00b to whiskeys I always appreciated a little ice to ease the burn. Nowadays if it's actually good I like just a few drops of water but budgetary constraints have me drinking cheap ...as wire's mcnulty would say... "protestant" irish whiskey.

YouTube - The Wire - McNulty on Bushmills

[mbiz]

heaven forbid you drink it how you enjoy it

[BennyLaRue]

Even he told me that the Laphroaig is pretty bad unless you like to drink that actual taste profile. Just because it tastes like Peat, that doesn't make it the best. Pretty sure that if I tried one of those first, they would probably be my last as well.

Right on. You work up to those and might not ever like them. I had Laphroaig Quarter Cask (in a bar in North Bay of all places because what else can you do in North Bay?) and let's just say I'm not appreciating it yet and am glad I didn't buy a bottle.

Nice tr. Agree with Flomo 100% which is why I've been trying to keep it Beginner's Circle on you. Sidebar on the topic of Flomo and whiskey: Flomo isn't "gay" to appreciate a good scotch-based cocktail like a Rob Roy. It's not like he's talking about a tom collins or gin and juice or some equally weak beverage (not that those don't have their time and place either). A Rob Roy or Manhattan is 100% booze, can be a nice changeup and doesn't require a premium scotch to enjoy. We can all learn from Roger Sterling on this one.

[jyms]

we found the snob to give jyms advice.

hehe

jyms
think of this in the way that poker advice can be given on these boards.
many different levels===many correct answers===many different situations

I agree with flomo 100% as well and is why I said that. I get that their are tastes and levels, and I have been doing a bunch of reading on just that. That's why I like the idea of knowing more, so when I am told that blahblah scotch is the best I know why they are full of shit.

As an example, Loch Dhu 10 Year Old : Buy Online - The Whisky Exchange goes for anywhere ups to £250.00+, but nobody in the world would drink it that knows any better. Tasting notes for Loch Dhu 10 year old (Mannochmore distillery) Strong taste and expensive price tags do not make good scotch and only the snobs think otherwise.

[CoccoBill]

I know a guy that drinks single malts religiously and last time I was at his house another buddy went Apeshit about the value that this guy had in his cabinet in scotch alone. Even he told me that the Laphroaig is pretty bad unless you like to drink that actual taste profile. Just because it tastes like Peat, that doesn't make it the best. Pretty sure that if I tried one of those first, they would probably be my last as well.

Islays are known for their peaty and smoky notes, yes. All the brands I mentioned were Islays, since they happen to be the cream of the crop. They have complex character, strong flavors and often taste like they were squeezed from a Scottish fisherman's underpants after a 2 day storm. They fill your mouth and nose with taste, it's up to you to decide whether you like it or not. I respect your friend's right to his opinion about Laphroaig, and I reserve my right to say he's an idiot. I left Talisker out for that reason, THAT is a strong flavored whisky that I would not recommend as your first whisky. Since this whole thread is about personal taste and preferences, please all spare me your bullshit about universal truths, there aren't any. My preference is whiskies with character, and if you don't like islays, chances are no whiskies (or whiskeys, as the irish and american imitations are called) will offer you anything worth the trouble. I would never waste a single malt for mixed drinks, any cheap booze will achieve the same. Single malts are for enjoyment, not for getting hammered.

[jyms]

Coccobill, your not saying anything that can't be read on 100 scotch web sites. The snobbery oozing from your words is not only laughable but exactly what this thread was about at the start. I wanted a discussion about learning to like scotch and how to take steps to go about it. How would I ever gain the enjoyment of lesser tasting scotches if I just buy a bottle of Laphroaig and drink it with a couple drops of water until I like it 8 bottles later. That's not what drinking scotch is all about either. There are so many good scotches with a little less flavour that would be skipped over once I adapt to the taste of those stronger brands.

And to tell someone how to drink the scotch they purchase with their money is sobbery to the Nth degree. Not that I plan on having a single malt and coke, but the fuck I won't if I want to. You talk about no universal truths and then tell us how we are supposed to drink our drinks? I also reserve the right to say that calling the Islay's scotches the cream of the crop also makes you a snobbsih idiot and another universal truth that you disagree exist.

[flomo]

I'm going to a concert tonight in a byob type of place. The rob roys i just made will be going along with a champange cocktail.

Like the manhattan, the rob roy cocktail has endless variations which can be made to the drink. traditionnally rob roys are made with red vermouth but i'm looking for something leaner for tonight, so i'm using white vermouth. this is the recipe for tonight's cocktail.

2 oz white horse blended scotch
.75 oz white vermouth noilly prat
dash of peychaud's bitters

gently stir all the ingredients with ice for at least 30 seconds, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with lemon twist or cherry.
i prefer the lemon twist.

[DropTheBanana]

I started my scotch drinking with shit like Grant's and Famous Grouse, and as I grew to like scotch and other whisky's the level of bottle I bought improved.

I've never met anyone who tried scotch for the first time and was like "WOW, THIS IS FUCKING DELICIOUS!!!" (I'm sure they are out there though).

When you start at the bottom (or bottom-ish), you can only go up, and as Jyms' palate learns to appreciate scotch for it's subtleties his taste for better scotch will grow as well.

But, if he starts out with an incredible bottle and has the almost inevitable "WTF is this devil water I'm drinking?"reaction. As time passes he's just going to have shittier things to compare it to, which in turn, will turn him off completely from whisky.

If someone offered me some Grant's now I would probably piss in their silverware drawer out of offense. But in the initial stages of acquiring a taste for scotch, when the actual taste of any scotch is still pretty shitty, I don't see why a $75 bottle of 15YO is really necessary.

Just an opinion.

[CoccoBill]

Coccobill, your not saying anything that can't be read on 100 scotch web sites. The snobbery oozing from your words is not only laughable but exactly what this thread was about at the start. I wanted a discussion about learning to like scotch and how to take steps to go about it. How would I ever gain the enjoyment of lesser tasting scotches if I just buy a bottle of Laphroaig and drink it with a couple drops of water until I like it 8 bottles later. That's not what drinking scotch is all about either. There are so many good scotches with a little less flavour that would be skipped over once I adapt to the taste of those stronger brands.

And to tell someone how to drink the scotch they purchase with their money is sobbery to the Nth degree. Not that I plan on having a single malt and coke, but the fuck I won't if I want to. You talk about no universal truths and then tell us how we are supposed to drink our drinks? I also reserve the right to say that calling the Islay's scotches the cream of the crop also makes you a snobbsih idiot and another universal truth that you disagree exist.

You seem to have missed my point completely. We're talking about matters of taste, you asked (albeit indirectly) mine, I gave it to you. You don't have to like it or detect the sarcasm in my post. Btw if 100 scotch web sites state that islays are the best, as you claimed, wouldn't you think they might be on to something?

[flomo]

taste like they were squeezed from a Scottish fisherman's underpants after a 2 day storm. They fill your mouth

sounds like something Bigred would like!

[Galapogos]

What ever happened to the real CoccoBill?

[WillburForce]

What ever happened to the real CoccoBill?

Last seen being driven off by some nutter wearing a kilt with ginger hair.

[Galapogos]

Ha!

[swiggidy]

Scotch of the Month Club. What you get.

Anyone interested? (or motivated enough to look up prices and determine if this is a horrible deal, or if that's true for month clubs)

I was thinking about 6 month, but could easily be talked into 12 month if anyone else was going to join too.

[flomo]

you will take a hit on the price, but these will be some hard to find scotches that won't be at your regular neighborhood package store.

If you are specific in what style of scotch you like youy might not want to dish out money for another style/region.


Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask 12yr. | AstorWines.com
and they ship
Delivery & Shipping Information | Astor Wines & Spirits

[swiggidy]

you will take a hit on the price, but these will be some hard to find scotches that won't be at your regular neighborhood package store.

If you are specific in what style of scotch you like youy might not want to dish out money for another style/region.


Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask 12yr. | AstorWines.com
and they ship
Delivery & Shipping Information | Astor Wines & Spirits

So you're saying we should just start our own club and you picked the whiskey of the month for Jan

[DropTheBanana]

I second that idea

[jyms]

I second that idea

+1

I think if we can keep it at at or around the $75-$100 range for our bigger purchases and the $50-$75 range for most, this would be a cool idea. Hopefully I can find most bottles at one of our LCBO's here in Ontario.